Re: [Phys-l] dirty water

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskil@mail.montclair.edu>]

On Jul 9, 2006, at 11:11 AM, Marc "Zeke" Kossover wrote:

> --- Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskil@mail.montclair.edu> wrote:
>
> > Steam escaping from a beaker with boiling dirty water is
> > supposed to be
> > essentially H2O vapor. But is it really so? What about a
> > possibility
> > that escaping bubbles create tiny droplets of dirty water
> > and rising
> > steam is mixed with them? Please share what you think or
> > what you know.
> > References would be appreciated.
>
> No references, but through experience, one can get lots of
> other stuff, especially volatiles. Unless you are very
> careful, you will distill alcohol, acetic acid, ammonia,
> and lots of other compounds (some that don't begin with an
> "A"). Traps can help capture some dense solids.

Thanks. What I had in mind was purity of the re-condensed liquid. By 
the way, did somebody take a patent on turning urine into drinking 
water by using solar energy. I am thinking about caravans in equatorial 
deserts. An oasis with fresh water made from the urine left by previous 
visitors.

Hei, it is time to start watching the France-Italy game in Berlin.

Ludwik Kowalski
Let the perfect not be the enemy of the good.